There is one education Mark Jones doesn’t need as he returns to his home state on Sunday when the Giants face the Eagles in Philadelphia.

“I played in front of some hostile fans, not as hostile as Philly fans,” Jones said yesterday. “I’m from that area, so I know what it’s like.”

Jones, who is from Wallingford, Pa., is one of the newest and smallest (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) Giants, claimed off waivers from the Buccaneers to fill the punt-return role. He’ll also be given a look on kickoff returns.

“He’s a young man we were surprised to see on the waiver wire,” Tom Coughlin said.

The Giants had Jones rated as the top pure return man in the NFL draft and would have tried to sign him if Tampa Bay didn’t make him a seventh-round pick. He averaged 6.1 yards on 11 punt returns for the Bucs in the preseason before he was waived.

“I wasn’t surprised, I was more kind of shocked more than anything,” Jones said. “Hopefully I can turn it around here.”

A receiver, return man and defensive back at Tennessee, Jones was a versatile college player, but his role is far more specific with the Giants, who’ve engaged in an ongoing search for a dangerous punt returner.

“I’m very confident – this is something I’ve been doing since high school,” Jones said.

Asked what can be expected of him Sunday in his NFL debut, Jones said, “Big things. I’m coming in there real confident. . . . No fair catches, not unless I have to.”

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A day after TE Jeremy Shockey declared he’s 100 percent healthy and guaranteed he will play versus the Eagles, Coughlin was a bit more reserved.

“I like his attitude,” Coughlin said. “I would like him to practice a couple of days and we’ll see how that goes before any announcement is made.” Shockey practiced yesterday on a limited basis.

Despite the signing of RB Mike Cloud, Coughlin said “[Ron] Dayne is still the short-yardage back.” . . . CB Will Allen (knee) ran well on Monday, according to Coughlin, but has not yet been given the go-ahead to resume practicing.